Idiom Meaning

by Waine Evans

​Formulaic Language

​Idioms are a type of formulaic language. Formulaic language consists of fixed expressions which you learn and understand as units rather than as individual words.

​

​For example........................

​Type of formulaic language

​Greeting and good wishes

​Prepositional Phrases

​Sayings, proverbs and quotations

​Compounds

​Phrasal Verbs

​Collocations

​Examples

​Hi there! See you soon! Happy birthday

​At the moment, in a hurry, from time to time

​It's a small world, Don't put all your eggs in one basket, To be or not to be - that is the question

​Car park, bus stop, home made

​Take off, look after, turn down

​Blonde hair, deeply disappointed

​Idioms

​Idioms are fixed combinations of words whose meaning is often difficult to guess from the meaning of each individual word.

​

​Foe example, if I say "I put my foot in it the other day at Linda's house, I asked her if she was going to marry Simon", what does it mean? If you do not know that put your foot in it means say something accidentally which upsets or embarrasses someone, it is difficult to know exactly what the sentence means. It has a non-literal or idiomatic meaning.

​Idioms

​Idioms are constructed in different ways and you will learn a wide variety of types of idiom. Here are some examples:

​

​Tim took a shine to (immediately liked) his teacher.

​The band's number one hit was just a flash in the pan (something that happens only once).

​Little Jimmy has been as quiet as a mouse (extremely quiet) all day.

​We arrived safe and sound (safely) .

​

​Idioms are often based on everyday things and ideas, for example, the human body: Mark and Alister don't see eye to eye. (don't agree with each other).

​How can I use idioms?

​Many idioms are quite formal, so use them carefully. You will need to be able to understand a lot of idioms if you want to read English fiction, newspapers or magazines, or understand TV shows, films and songs. People also often use idioms for humour or to comment on themselves, other people and situations.

​

​You will also sound more natural and fluent if you can use idioms in everyday conversation or informal writing. Be careful not use too many, though!

In 2009, I set off on along journey. As I left my house, my neighbour shouted, 'Good luck!' I didn't know at that moment that I would not see him again for three years. I boarded the plane at Heathrow and soon it took off for Malaysia. When we touched down in Kuala Lumpur, I couldn't wait to get off the plane. I took a bus to the city centre and spent the night at a youth hostel. The first person I met was someone I had been at school with years ago. 'It's a small world!' he said when he saw me.

Read the beginning of this story and after you will need to label the type of formulaic language used in the words in bold.

Multiple Choice

I set off

• compound

• greetings and good wishes

• collocation

• prepositional phrase

• phrasal verb

Multiple Choice

Good luck

• compound

• greetings and good wishes

• collocation

• prepositional phrase

• phrasal verb

Multiple Choice

at that moment

• compound

• greetings and good wishes

• collocation

• prepositional phrase

• phrasal verb

Multiple Choice

boarded the plane

• compound

• greetings and good wishes

• collocation

• prepositional phrase

• phrasal verb

Multiple Choice

took off

• compound

• saying or proverb

• collocation

• prepositional phrase

• phrasal verb

Multiple Choice

touched down

• compound

• greetings and good wishes

• collocation

• prepositional phrase

• phrasal verb

Multiple Choice

get off

• compound

• greetings and good wishes

• collocation

• prepositional phrase

• phrasal verb

Multiple Choice

took the bus

• compound

• greetings and good wishes

• collocation

• prepositional phrase

• phrasal verb

Multiple Choice

city centre

• compound

• greetings and good wishes

• collocation

• prepositional phrase

• phrasal verb

Multiple Choice

spent the night at school

• compound

• greetings and good wishes

• collocation

• prepositional phrase

• phrasal verb

Multiple Choice

youth hostel

• compound

• greetings and good wishes

• collocation

• prepositional phrase

• phrasal verb

Multiple Choice

at school

• compound

• greetings and good wishes

• collocation

• prepositional phrase

• phrasal verb

Multiple Choice

It's a small world

• compound

• greetings and good wishes

• saying or proverb

• prepositional phrase

• phrasal verb

Find the seven idioms in the rest of the story

​My friend suggested we joined forces. 'There's safety in numbers,' he said. 'Let's hit the road together.' I was in two minds whether to go with him but finally decided to say yes. We travelled together for six months and had a whale of a time. We spent money like there was no tomorrow, so I had to twist my dad's arm and persuade him to send me some more money so I could travel further.

Did you find them, let's see.

​My friend suggested we joined forces. 'There's safety in numbers,' he said. 'Let's hit the road together.' I was in two minds whether to go with him but finally decided to say yes. We travelled together for six months and had a whale of a time. We spent money like there was no tomorrow, so I had to twist my dad's arm and persuade him to send me some more money so I could travel further.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer.

His first novel was just ..................

• a flash in a pan

• a flash of the pan

• a flash in the pan

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer.

I think Philip has ....................

• given a shine to

• taken a shine to

• got a shine to his new baby sitter

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer.

I hope you have a good trip and come home .....................

• safely and soundly

• sound and safe

• safe and sound

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer.

Oh dear! I think I've

• had a foot in it

• put my foot in it

• got my foot in it

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer.

Kate is really noisy, but her best friend is ...........................

• as quiet as a cat

• as quiet as a mouse

• as quiet like a mouse

Multiple Choice

Look at these newspaper headlines. Each one has an idiom based on the part of the human body. What do you think they mean? Choose wisely.

University goes cap in hand to finance minister

A university .........................

• apologises to the minister

• ask the minister for financial help

• awards the minister a great honour

Multiple Choice

airline foots the bill for delays and cancellations

An airline ...................

• has refused to pay costs

• sends the bill to someone else

• will pay the costs

Multiple Choice

Boy George is the apple of Hollywood's eye

Boy George is ...................

• loved by everyone in Hollywood

• hated by everyone in Hollywood

• missed by everyone in Hollywood

Multiple Choice

Government is burying its head in the sand, says opposition leader

The government is ........................

• refusing to face a difficult situation

• about to resign

• making unpopular plans